Anyone have any idea why "Personal Range" spells can't be potions? (I know this is gonna be all opinions unless a Dev steps in, but... whatever.)
It just seems like those spells would be the perfect candidates for potions! Take a spell you normally can't share with others, and put it in a bottle for anyone to drink. Except, you can't do that.
Just don't get it.
You can stick said spell on a scroll and anyone with a high enough UMD skill can "cast" it.
So we've established that "magic item creation" breaks the mold.
So why is the mold so much harder to break for potions?
(I honestly couldn't tell if you were honestly answering me or trolling me, lol)
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Personal range spells are often significantly more powerful than touch range spells, so they require a bit of investment to get; either by playing a casting class that receives those spells or by putting ranks into Use Magic Device and purchasing scrolls. All in all, it seems like it is both a balancing mechanism and a way to keep some things unique to some classes.
Using the item creation chart, you can use Craft Wondrous Item to create elixers of personal spells (or spells of higher than 3rd level for that matter) that function just like potions at the same cost (this is, of course, subject to GM approval), but going down that road might devalue Brew Potion in the face of other item creation feats.
If you are a GM who wants potions of personal spells, then it is an easy houserule to add in. If you are a player, ask your GM about instituting it. But watch out, potions of Shield would be a cheap investment for a two-handed warrior to abuse, for example.
Potions can be used by anyone without a check, this brings interesting balance questions up, because if you could take the "personal range spells" and make them into potions, now you can just buy a slew of potions that overcome deficiencies/boost your character to obscene levels with almost no investment (just the gp price) and no chance of failure.
Shield is the least of your worries, lead blades, gravity bow, etc..
On the other hand though, besides Alchemists who get it for free, who even takes the Brew Potion feat? Compared to other options, it just isn't a good feat. So "balance problems" arise from personal-range potions, but is that really a problem when potions, as they are now, are a bad investment?
On the other hand though, besides Alchemists who get it for free, who even takes the Brew Potion feat? Compared to other options, it just isn't a good feat. So "balance problems" arise from personal-range potions, but is that really a problem when potions, as they are now, are a bad investment?
I don't see the validity of this statement, two of the characters in my game have taken Brew Potion and neither is an Alchemist.
What are you comparing it to? It's all very situational.
I've seen many a cleric in my games use Brew Potion to great effect, especially combat focused clerics who do not want to have to pause their exciting battle to fix conditions on other party members. Restoration, lesser has a casting time of 3 rounds- its potion can be used in 1, fixing massive penalties from spells in combat, rather than waiting for afterward. Potions of remove blindness for martials and remove deafness for casters have saved the day a handfull of times as well in the heat of combat. The usefulness of brewing potions is heavily dependent on play-style choices.
I've seen many a cleric in my games use Brew Potion to great effect, especially combat focused clerics who do not want to have to pause their exciting battle to fix conditions on other party members. Restoration, lesser has a casting time of 3 rounds- its potion can be used in 1, fixing massive penalties from spells in combat, rather than waiting for afterward. Potions of remove blindness for martials and remove deafness for casters have saved the day a handfull of times as well in the heat of combat. The usefulness of brewing potions is heavily dependent on play-style choices.
I say Potions are a bad investment because you can get the exact same effect from a scroll, with a higher level limit and at half the creation cost.
I've seen many a cleric in my games use Brew Potion to great effect, especially combat focused clerics who do not want to have to pause their exciting battle to fix conditions on other party members. Restoration, lesser has a casting time of 3 rounds- its potion can be used in 1, fixing massive penalties from spells in combat, rather than waiting for afterward. Potions of remove blindness for martials and remove deafness for casters have saved the day a handfull of times as well in the heat of combat. The usefulness of brewing potions is heavily dependent on play-style choices.I say Potions are a bad investment because you can get the exact same effect from a scroll, with a higher level limit and at half the creation cost.
I refer you to Stynkk above. Potions require no ranks in Use Magic Device and no caster levels to use, they require no Spellcraft check to decipher, and have no chance of mishap (like reading a scroll does), so martials can use them without difficulty nor investment. They also can be used quicker than scrolls on spells with long casting times. Oh, and they can't be lit on fire.
Of course they are more expensive and have a couple limitations; they are more easily used.
Also, Cheliax- Fast Drinker trait. Check it out.
Potions of lesser restoration are the best. Three round casting time spell from a scroll, one standard action in potion form.
I can't argue with Potions of Lesser Restoration being amazing. But are they worth blowing a feat for, or is it just better to buy a few and use your feat on something else?
we discussed this in my campaign, and the DM didn't interpret the rules to prevent personal spells from being eligible for potions...I kind of thought it did, but let it go.
Uh... your DM should check the rules text a little harder. And you let him off the hook. I'm sorry, but there is nothing there to interpret. The rules are clear on this... extremely clear.
The imbiber of the potion is both the caster and the target. Spells with a range of personal cannot be made into potions.
Boom.